Azim thanks fans after Claggett win, says opponent made him train extra hard

Adam Azim credited his supporters and revealed he stepped up his preparation ahead of his victory over Steve Claggett, acknowledging the Canadian's strength forced him into a tougher training camp than usual.

“Thank you for everyone coming down to support me, thank you for the British and Pakistani supporting me. I had to train extra hard for 12 weeks because I knew Steve was very strong.”

— Adam Azim, via BBC Sport

What Adam Azim said

The lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-welterweight contest put Azim's unbeaten record on the line against Claggett, a durable opponent known for pushing top fighters the distance. Azim came through the test to preserve his standing in the 140-pound division.

What it moves

The win keeps Azim in the frame for bigger domestic and world-level fights at lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-welterweight. His public nod to Claggett's strength suggests the Canadian gave him a stern examination, likely forcing Azim to show more than he had in recent outings.

Source: bbc.com. Full Adam Azim fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.